Planning Technical Activities

PLANNING
TECHNICAL
ACTIVITIES
Planning technical activities involves
organizing and scheduling tasks related to
technology, such as software development,
system implementation, or hardware
maintenance. It includes defining goals,
allocating resources, setting timelines, and
coordinating efforts to ensure successful
execution of technical projects.
THE NATURE OF PLANNING
Managers can be overwhelmed when dealing with
multiple activities, leading to clouded judgment.
Planning helps minimize mistakes by providing a
systematic approach. Plans serve as guides during
implementation, preventing disproportionate
attention to minor tasks that could impede overall
objective achievement.
THE NATURE OF PLANNING
A plan, which is the output of planning, provides a
methodical way of achieving desired results. In the
implementation of activities, the plan serves as a useful
guide. Without the plan, some minor tasks may be afforded
major attention which may, later on, hinder the
accomplishment of objectives.
PLANNING DEFINED
According to Nickels and others, Planning is refers to
"the management function that involves anticipating
future trends and determining the best strategies and
tactics to achieve organizational objectives.“
This definition is useful because it relates the future to
what could be decided now.
PLANNING DEFINED
According to Aldag and Stearns, defined planning as

"the selection and sequential ordering of tasks
required to achieve an organizational goal.“
This definition centers on the activity required to
accomplish the goals.
PLANNING DEFINED
According to Cole and Hamilton Planning is
"deciding what will be done, who will do it, where,
when and how it will be done, and the standards to
which it will be done.“
They provides a better guide on how to effectively
perform this vital activity.
WHAT IS PLANNING ?
PLANNING
It is selecting the best course of action so that the desired
result may be achieved.
It must be stressed that the desired result takes first priority
and the course of action chosen is the means to realize the
goal.
PLANNING AT VARIOUS
MANAGEMENT LEVELS
Planning activities undertaken at various levels areas
follows:
1. Top management level - strategic planning.
2. Middle management level - intermediate planning.
3. Lower management level - operational planning.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
• Strategic planning refers to the “process of determining
the major goals of the organization and the policies and
strategies for obtaining and using resources to achieve
those goals”.
• The top management of any firm is involved in this type
of planning.
• In strategic planning, the whole company is considered,
specifically its objectives and current resources.
INTERMEDIATE PLANNING
• Intermediate planning refers to "the process of
deter mining the contributions that subunits can
make with allocated resources”.
• This type of planning is undertaken by middle
management.
• The intermediate plan is designed to support the
strategic plan.
OPERATIONAL PLANNING
• Operational planning refers to “ the process of
determining how specific tasks can best be
accomplished on time with available resources."
• This type of planning is a responsibility of lower
management.
• It must be performed in support of the strategic
plan and the intermediate plan.
The Organization and Types of Planning
Undertaken
Responsible for PRESIDENT/GENERAL
STRATEGIC MANAGER
PLANNING
MARKETING PRODUCTION PERSONAL

FINANCE MANAGER
MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER
Responsible for
INTERMEDIATE
PLANNING
INDUSTRIAL QUALITY
FACTORY
ENGINEERING CONTROL
MANAGER
MANAGER MANAGER
Responsible for
OPERATIONAL
PLANNING
THE PLANNING PROCESS
The process of planning consists of various steps
depending on the management level that performs the
planning task.
Planning involves the following:
1. setting organizational, divisional, or unit goals
2. developing strategies or tactics to reach those goals
3. determining resources needed and
4. setting standards.
SETTING ORGANIZATIONAL, DIVISIONAL, OR UNIT
GOALS
• The first task of the engineer manager is to provide a sense

of direction to his firm , to his division , or to his unit.
• The setting of goals provide an answer to the said concern.
• Goals is defined as the "precise statement of results sought,
quantified in time and magnitude, where possible”.
DEVELOPING STRATEGIES OR TACTICS TO
REACH GOALS
• After determining the goals, the next task is to devise

some means to realize them. The ways to realize the
goals are called strategies and these will be the concern
of top management.
• Strategy is defined as "a course of action aimed at
ensuring that the organization will achieve its
objectives”.
DETERMINING RESOURCES NEEDED
•When engineers plan strategies, their
manager decides what people and things are
needed, specifying the quality and quantity.
Having too much or too little can be wasteful
or result in missed opportunities for making
money.
SETTING STANDARDS
• Performance standards are established during planning.

If actual performance deviates from the plan, corrections
or reinforcements are applied.
• Standard is defined as "a quantitative or qualitative
measuring device designed to help monitor the
performances of people, capital goods, or processes”.
TYPES OF PLANS
Functional Area Plans
Types of functional area plans:
1. Marketing plan- this is the written document or blueprint for implementing and
controlling an organization's marketing activities related to a particular marketing
strategy.
2. Production plan - this is a written document that states the quantity of output a
company must produce in broad terms and by product family.
3. Financial plan - it is a document that summa- rizes the current financial situation of
the firm, analyzes financial needs, and recommends a direction for financial activities.
4. Human resource management plan - it is a document that indicates the human
resource needs of a company detailed in terms of quantity and quality and based on
the requirements of the company's strategic plan.
Plans With Time Horizon
Plans with time horizon consist of the following:
1. Short-range plans - these are plans intended to
cover a period of less than one year. First-line
supervisors are mostly concerned with these plans.
2. Long-range plans - these are plans covering a time
span of more than one year. These are mostly
undertaken by middle and top management.
Plans According to Frequency of Use
According to frequency of use, plans may be classified as:
1. single-use plans and
2. standing plans
Single-Use Plans -These plans are specifically developed to implement

courses of action that are relatively unique and are unlikely to be repeated.
Standing Plans -These are plans that are used again and again, and they focus
on managerial situations that recur repeatedly.
MAKING PLANNING EFFECTIVE
Planning may be made successful if the following are
observed:
1. recognize the planning barriers
2. use of aids to planning
Among the aids to planning that may be used are:

1 . Gather as much information as possible
2. Develop multiple sources of information
The planning barriers, according to Plunkett and Attner, are as
follows:
1. manager's inability to plan
2. improper planning process
3. lack of commitment to the planning process
4. improper information
5. focusing on the present at the expense of the future
6. too much reliance on the planning department
7. concentrating on only the controllable variables

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PLANNING

According to Aldag and Stearns, defined planning as

MARKETING PRODUCTION PERSONAL

• The first task of the engineer manager is to provide a sense

• After determining the goals, the next task is to devise

• Performance standards are established during planning.

Single-Use Plans -These plans are specifically developed to implement

Among the aids to planning that may be used are:

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